Draw string bags



March 5, 1963 E. KUGLER 3,079,966

DRAW s'i'a1NG"'BAGs Filed Dec. 16, 1959 2 sheets-sheet 1v JNVENTOIL By EMA/V051. /UGL EE.

Arme/V575 March 5, 1963 E. KUGLER,

DRAW STRING BAGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1959 NVENTOR. EMANUEL /UG/.EE

United States Patent M9366 DRAW S'fllNG BAGS Emanuel Kugler, Valley Stream, NX. (124 Richmond Place, Lawrence, NY.) Filed Dec. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 859,?572 3 iaims. (Cl. 15d-1i) This invention relates to draw string bags. More pan ticularly, the invention relates to draw string bags made of readily severable material.

Previously, conventional draw string bags have had the draw strings of the respective hems of the mouth of the bag fastened together at points outside the bag and such points have been spaced apart a distance somewhat greater than the effective width of the bag. Bags thus formed can be closed yby grasping the draw strings outside either edge of the bag and pulling material of the hems away from the point where the draw strings are grasped towards the other edge of the bag, thus gathering the hems to thereby close the mouth of the bag. Such bags are7 therefore, very convenient to open and close. When such bags are opened, however, and especially when they are opened by mechanical lingers or spreader means prior to being filled with merchandise, the material of the bag frequently tears, especially along the longitudinal margins of the bag. This tearing of the bags during filling is caused by the mechanical lingers being inserted in the mouth and spread apart, sometimes quite abruptly and forcibly, to open the mouth of the bag as far as possible. Since in the conventional bag the points at which the draw strings are fastened together are spaced apart a distance greater than the effective width of the bag, this opening movement results in sudden strain upon the material of the bag as the mouth reaches its widest open position and the hems forming the mouth of the bag are stretched taut. This sudden strain frequently results in tearing of the material of the bag and is a source of considerable diihculty in connection with the loading of bags of this type. it is object of the present invention to provide a draw string bag and method of making same which substantially eliminates the difficulties mentioned above while at the same time retaining the advantages of the type of draw string bag described above.

According to the present invention, a draw string bag is provided which comprises front and back panels of iiexible, readily severable material connected together along longitudinal side margins of the bag. Preferably the material is heat scalable and heat severable (eg. polyethylene) to facilitate fabrication. Gpposed transverse edges of these panels are provided with tubular lips which form an open mouth of the bag and extend to the respective longitudinal margins of the bag. Each of the tubular lips is coextensive with the full width of the bag and contains a draw string a xd the draw strings of the respective tubular lips are fastened together outside the bag at points adjacent the respective longitudinal margins of the bag. The points at which the draw strings are fastened together are spaced apart a distance less than the width of the bag thereby limiting the extent to which the mouth of the bag can be opened and permanently retaining the tubular lips in a puckered or gathered condition.

lt is apparent that when draw string bags constructed in accordance with the present invention are opened in the manner described above, the extent to which the mouth of the bag can be opened is limited not by the width of the bag, as is the case with previously l-:nown bags of the type described above, but rather by the distance between the respective points at which the draw strings are fastened together, since such distance is less than the width of the bag. The sudden strain occurring when the mouth of the bag reaches its widest open position is, therefore, exerted 3,979,965 Patented Mar. 5, 1963 ice on the draw strings rather than on the material of the bag. Since the draw strings may easily be made strong enough to withstand any amount of strain likely to be imposed in this manner, tearing of the bags during loading is Substantially eliminated.

Any suitable flexible, readily severable material may be used in making draw string bags in accordance with the present invention but plastic heat severable materials such as polyethylene are preferred. The thickness of such material may vary over a Wide range but the usual thickness of polyethylene for average use is between about @.Ctli and about 0.910 inch. Where relatively thin material is used or where heavy loads are to be carried it may be desirable to use multiple thicknesses of material for part or all of the bag.

Any suitable string means may be used in bags constructed in accordance with this invention and it is intended for example that conventional cords or plastic strings as well as metal strips or tapes may be used for this purpose.

ln fastening the string means of bags constructed in accordance with this invention, any suitable method of fastening may be employed. For instance, heat sealing techniques may be employed with heat fusible tapes or strings while suitable means such as staples may be used to fasten other types of string means such as ordinary cords.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my previous co-pending application Serial No. 773,029 tiled November l0, 1958.

in making a draw string bag in accordance with the present invention tie bag material may tirst be formed into a bag strip having oppositely disposed front and back panels connected together along one longitudinal margin of the strip corresponding to the bottom of the bags and in which oppositely disposed edge portions of said panels form the other longitudinal margin of the strip with each of said edge portions comprising a tubular hem containing string means. The material of the bag strip including material of the hems surrounding the string means may then be segmented and sealed along transverse seal lines at a bag width interval to form a bag segment while leaving the string means intact. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner such as by utilizing the method and apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned application Serial No. 773,029. The transverse seal lines thus form the longitudinal margins of the bag segment while the hems extend the full width of the bag segment between such margins. The string means of the respective hems is then fastened together at a first point outside the bag segment adjacent one longitudinal margin thereof and the material of the hems is then advanced towards said point relative to the string means contained in the hems. The string means of the respective hems are then fastened together at a second point outside the bag segment adjacent the other longitudinal margin thereof with the second point being spaced from the rst point a distance less than the full width of the bag segment to retain the hems in a puclcered condition. The string means may then be severed to separate the thus formed bag from the bag strip.

Various further :and more specic objects, features and advantages of this invention will appear from the description taken in connection with the accompanying l rawings which form a part of this specification and illustrate by way of example certain preferred embodiments of the invention. The invention consists in such novel features as may be shown and `described in connection with the `articles tand methods herein disclosed.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is `a plan view of a web of bag material showing zrsomewhat schematically certain steps in the formation of draw string bags such as the bagshown-in -FIG. 6 in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the same web in a later stage of formation;

FIG. .-3 lis a cross-*sectional view taken at 3--3 of FIG. 2;

Y IFIG. l4 is a plan View showing `a still vlater stage in the formation of the web shown in FIG. 1 into bags such as -that shown in FIG.: 6;

5 is :a fragmentary plan view on a somewhat enlarged scale, showing Va stil-l later stage in the formation of the .web shown 4in FIG. l-into bags .such as that shown in .6;

FIG/6 is aplan .View of a'drawstring bag constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 7 is a top end view of the bag` shown in FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a crossasectional'view .taken at -3--8 of FIG. 6 on a somewhat enlarged scale; and

LFIG. l9 is .a somewhat diagram-matic side elevational view of' apparatus suitable for making bags in accordance with .the invention.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1-5 show various stages in the formation of a draw `string bag 30 vwhich is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 6-8. Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, a web or bag. strip 21 of polyethylene Asheet Vmaterial is shown advancing in the direction indicated by an arrow 22. As the web -advances, continuous strings 23 and 23' are positioned adjacent the longitudinal edges A24 and 24 of the advancing lweb and these edges are folded over the strings about fold lines indicated'at -25 yand 25. The folded over edges 24 and 24' are their heat `sealed zto opposed portions of the web as indicated by seal lines 26 and 26 to form tubular hems .27 andf27 `containing the strings 23 and 23 -and forming the longitudinal marginsof the web. The web 21 is then folded .about La longitudinal fold line 28 tto bring-the tubular hems.27 and 27 into opposed relation and toiform Aa folded web or .bag strip as shown in FIGS. 2 :and 3. VIf desired, Vthe fold about the line 28 may be gusseted so as to form .a -bag having a gusset-ed bottom. The folded web is then severed vand sealed Ialong transverse Eseal lines such as 29 (FIG. 2) to form individual bag segments such as.30, 30a and 30h having sealed side margins 32, 32', 32a, 32a.,.32b and l32h' to which the hems such as 427 and 27 extend ias shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. During this severing operation, the material of :the Web including material of the hems 27 and 27 surrounding the strings 23 and 23 is severed without severing the strings.

4The operations described immediately above Vmay all be performed in the manner taught in the 'above mentioned Iapplication Serial No. 773,029 and the apparatus described `in that application or other suitable apparatus may be used. If desired, the web may be maintained under tension during the folding and sealing operations while the .strings 'are positioned in a substantially unstretched condition as described in'application Serial No. 773,029 so that release of such tension after the severing and sealing operation results in small lengths of string being exposed between the bag segments 30, 36a and 30b as indicated at 31 in FIG.A4, but it should be understood that such means of obtaining lengths of exposed string between the bag segments may be dispensed with when making bags in laccordance with the present invention.

vFollowing the severance of the .bag strip 121 into bag segments such as '30, 36a and 30b as `described above, the strings. 23 and 23 of the leading bag segment 3'0 .are fastened together as by a staple 33 outside the bagsegrnent Iand adjacent one longitudinal .side margin 3-2 thereo'f (FIG. 5). Material of the hems of the leading bag segment 30 is then advanced towards the sta-ple 33 with respect to the strings 2-3 and 23 to form puckers 50 along the hems 27 and 27 of the bag segment 30 :as shownin FIGS. Stand 6. The strings 23fand 23 are -then fastened together outside the leading bag segment 30 adjacent the other longitudinal side margin 32' thereof las by -a staple 3'3 which is spaced along the strings 23 and 23' from the staple y3,3; by .a ldistance less than the normal width of the bag segment-@between the margins 32 and 32' thus retaining the hems 27 andf27^of the bag segment 30 in a permanently puckered condition. The strings 23 and 23 may then lbe severed between the staple 33' and the next succeeding bag segment 33a, as indicated by aline 34 in FIG. 5 to'form Iaiinished bag 30 as shown in FIGS. 6 8. Each succeeding bag segment may then be formed into #a finished bag inthe same manner. If desired, a staple V36a (FIG. 5) may conveniently be used to fasten the .strings 23 'and 23' together adjacent the margin 32a 'ofthe .next succeeding vbag segment 30a before severing the strings :as indicated by the line 34 'be'- tw-een the 'staples '36 and 33a.

Pairs .of staples-such as 33 and arnay Vbe tired into the strings '23 and 23 by conventional stapling equip-Y mentfrand the strings may be vsevered Vbetweengthe staples of each such pair by any conventional cutting'knife. l'- iternatively, a single staple head lmay bensed capable "of ltiring two staples in close proximity to each other and simultaneously severing the strings "between "each of staples, las referred to hereinafter. r

Bags -suoh as the bag 3i) shown more vvparticularly in FIGS. 6-8 may lbemade in any suitable size. Forinstance, bags -measuring l5 inches by 10 inches may beV Iformed from ,a web of -bag material measuring Y33 inches wide by folding about 11/2 inches `of the web material over the strings along each longitudinal margin of the web to form tubular hems as described above and then severing the bag material transversely at intervals of about l0 inches. l

Referring now to FIG. 9, apparatus is schematically shown vfor making draw string bags in accordance the present invention. This apparatus will be described with kreference to the production -of -bags such as :that shown in lFIGS. 6-8 by the process described in connection with FIGS. 1-5. As shown `in FIG. '9, the bag strip 21, the vmaterial of which has been severed and sealedto form bag segmentssuch as 30, 30a and'lztb without severing the strings 23 and 23 in accordance with the method and apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned applica'- tion Serial No. 773,029, is advanced in the direction in'div cated by an arrow 41 by means vof a pair of draw rolls 42 and 42. The thickness of the lbag strip 21 has 'been exaggerated to better show the parts. At the stage of the process shown in FIG. 9 thestrings 23 and 23' have already been fastened together -by the staple V15S-outside the bag Vsegment 36 adjacent the leading longitudinal side margin 32 Vthereof in the manner to be described below with respect toy bag segment 30a.

When the leading margin 32 of the {bag segment 30 has been advanced to the point shown in FIG. 9, vgatherer rolls 43 and 43 advance material of the hems 27 and 27 of the bag segment 30 with respect to the strings v23 and 2 3' as -Well yas with -respect'to the succeeding 'bag segment'a', thus puckering or gathering the hems of the bag segment 30. Additionally, the adjacent edges of the bag segments 30 and 30a are thus sepa-rated so as to provide an increased space and intervening length of string to facilitate xing the staples a safe distance from the ends of thecut strings to prevent the staples from slipping oi. If desired, the hems of the :bag lsegment 30 may -be puckered by merely causing the rolls 43 and 43 to advance the material ofthe hems faster than the rolls 42 and 42 are advancing the material of the bag segments yand the strings 23 and 23.

'When the bag segments 30and 30a are in the position shown in FIG. 9 and the hems of the bag segment 30 have ybeen puckered as shown, the strings 23 and.23' areV a distance less than the full width of the bag segment 39 so as to retain the hems of the -bag segment 39 in a permanently puckered condition. The staple 33' may be tired by a staple machine 46 which may conveniently tire the staple 33a outside the bag segment 36a and adjacent the longitudinal margin 32a thereof simultaneously with firing the staple 33'. The staple machine 46 is illustrated as being a single staple unit such as disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 858,659, filed December 10, 1959, adapted to lire two staples simultaneously and sever the strings, lbut it should be understood that the staple machine 46 may comprise two conventional single staple heads spaced a suitable distance apart. Alternatively, the staple machine 46 may cornprise a single staple head adapted to tire the two staples in succession as the strings 23 and 23 and the bag segments are advanced as bythe draw rolls.

After the strings 23 and 23 have been fastened together by the staples 33, 33 and 33a as described above, and the strings severed between the staples 33 and 33a by means such as a suitable cutting blade 47, the nished bag 3i) is separated from the succeeding bag segment 33a and successive bags such as 3G are lthen discharged through delivery rolls 48 and 4S'.

In order to assist in the advancement of the bag segments and the discharge of the iinished bag 341 a series of transversely spaced parallel belt loops 49 and 49 of cord or other suitable material are preferably positioned around the rolls 42 and 4S and 42' and 48' and driven by one or both pairs of these rolls to provide conveyor means for advancing bag segments and discharging finished bags.

The subject matter shown and described herein but not claimed, forms the subject matter of one of my said copending applications or an application which is a division of this application, i.e., Serial No. 90,530, filed February 20, 1961.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certain preferred embodiments, -it will be understood by those skilled in the art that Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended to cover all such changes and modications in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A draw string bag of flexible, readily severable material comprising front and `back; panels connected together along longitudinal margins of the bag, opposed Cil transverse edges of said panels being provided with tubular lips forming an open mouth of said bag, each of said tubular lips extending to the respective longitudinal margins of the bag and containing a draw string, said draw strings being fastened together at respectively opposite fastening points outside the longitudinal margins of the bag, said points being spaced apart a distance less than that between the longitudinal margins of the bag, whereby each of said tubular lips is retained in puckered condition ywhen said open mouth of the bag is fully open.

2. A draw string -bag comprising front and lback panels of exible, heat severable material connected together along longitudinal margins of the bag, transverse edge portions of said panels respectively being provided with opposed tubular hems extending substantially the full width of the bag between said longitudinal margins and forming an open mouth of the bag, each of said tubular hems containing a draw string, said draw strings being fastened together `outside of the bag adjacent the respective longitudinal margins lthereof at respectively opposite fastening points spaced apart a distance substantially less than the distance between the respective ends of said tubular hems, whereby each Iof said tubular hems is retained in puckered condition when said open mouth of the bag is fully open.

3. A draw string bag comprising front and back panels of llexible, readily severa-ble material secured together along longitudinal margins of the bag, opposed transverse edge portions of said panels respectively forming an open mouth of said bag, each of said edge portions being provided with a tubular hem extending to the longitudinal margins of the Ibag respectively, each of said tubular hems containing `a draw string, said draw strings :being fastened together outside the bag adjacent the respective longitudinal margins thereof at fastening points spaced apart a distance less than that between the longitudinal margins of the bag, whereby said tubular hems are retained in a puckered condition when said open mouth of the bag is fully open.

References Qited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,390,423 Carter Dec. 4, 1945 2,656,769 Hultkrans Oct. 27, 1953 2,678,672 Spilrnan May 18, 1954 2,758,519 Steen Aug. 14, 1956 2,777,491 Ashton et al. Jan. 15, 1957 

1. A DRAW STRING BAG OF FLEXIBLE, READILY SEVERABLE MATERIAL COMPRISING FRONT AND BACK PANELS CONNECTED TOGETHER ALONG LONGITUDINAL MARGINS OF THE BAG, OPPOSED TRANSVERSE EDGES OF SAID PANELS BEING PROVIDED WITH TUBULAR LIPS FORMING AN OPEN MOUTH OF SAID BAG, EACH OF SAID TUBULAR LIPS EXTENDING TO THE RESPECTIVE LONGITUDINAL MARGINS OF THE BAG AND CONTAINING A DRAW STRING, SAID DRAW STRINGS BEING FASTENED TOGETHER AT RESPECTIVELY OPPOSITE FASTENING POINTS OUTSIDE THE LONGITUDINAL MARGINS OF THE BAG, SAID POINTS BEING SPACED APART A DISTANCE LESS THAN THAT BETWEEN THE LONGITUDINAL MARGINS OF THE BAG, WHEREBY EACH OF SAID TUBULAR LIPS IS RETAINED IN PUCKERED CONDITION WHEN SAID OPEN MOUTH OF THE BAG IS FULLY OPEN. 